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1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.1.1https://clarechampion.ie/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/cropped-Clare-Champion-Phoenix-only-32x32.pngShannon Group – The Clare Championhttps://clarechampion.ie
3232129683150Shannon Group CEO announces departurehttps://clarechampion.ie/shannon-group-ceo-announces-departure/
Wed, 20 Mar 2019 17:43:08 +0000https://clarechampion.ie/?p=70390LESS than three years after he arrived, Matthew Thomas is leaving his role as CEO of Shannon Group.

He is set to take up a new position as CEO of the Ports of Jersey. Shannon Group Deputy CEO Mary Considine will take on the role of Acting CEO of Shannon Group after his departure in June.

Since his arrival in mid 2016 Shannon Airport’s passenger numbers have increased, but the level of growth has been very moderate, reaching just 1.86 million last year.

While this was an increase of 6.5% on 2017, it is not much more than half the numbers which used Shannon during the Celtic Tiger years, and the Clare airport’s growth was eclipsed by the increasing dominance of Dublin. Shannon is now way off the targets that were set for it as it separated from the Dublin Airport Authority at the start of 2013.

On the industrial side, during Mr Thomas’ tenure there was significant investment in the redevelopment of the Shannon Free Zone, while occupancy rates there reached 94%. Shannon Group also performed well in terms of tourism, with 925,000 visiting its attractions last year.

In a statement on Wednesday, Mr Thomas said, “We have made real progress in developing our business and organisation over the past three years. I regret that I will not be involved in the continued growth of the company. However, I am looking forward to the exciting opportunity I have been offered to lead the development of the Ports of Jersey.”

Shannon Group Chairman Rose Hynes said, “On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Matthew for this vital contribution to the growth of Shannon Group. The Group is now on a very positive footing, primed for growth. We are sorry to see Matthew go and we wish him and his family all the best for the future. We now embark on the task of appointing his successor.”

The hotel has been for sale for some time and it is understood that a bid in the region of €1.5 million has been made on it. Savills, the company working on the sale, are hoping to achieve a price of closer to €1.8m.

At the moment, various rumours are swirling about the potential future of the property.

Speaking to The Clare Champion on Wednesday, Niall O’Callaghan, managing director of Shannon Heritage, would not be drawn on whether purchasing the hotel is being considered.

However, Mr O’Callaghan said that there are plans for major development in the Bunratty area. “We’re working on a masterplan at the moment in conjunction with Fáilte Ireland that we hope will come to fruition in the next 12 to 18 months. It’s part of the Fáilte Ireland Capital Grants Scheme and we’re working closely with them. Our ambition is to double the visitor numbers to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. Our primary focus at the moment is to get Bunratty Castle and Folk Park back into the top 10 attractions in the country, where it belongs.

“It’s an €8m investment between Shannon Group and Fáilte Ireland, that’s our primary focus now, making sure that we deliver a world-leading, world-class tourist attraction here in Clare.”

Bunratty is already very successful, he says, but it can improve. “As it stands, we’re in the top 20 attractions in the country with just under 400,000 visitors a year. Clearly, we’ve been doing something right for a number of years. We’re an ambitious company and in order to bring it to the next stage, we recognised investment was required and that’s exactly what we’re doing.”

Mr O’Callaghan said that Shannon Heritage attractions in the Mid-West already account for 253,000 bed nights.

At Tuesday’s meeting of Shannon Municipal District, Fianna Fáil’s Pat McMahon introduced a motion asking that the council ask Shannon Group to “seriously consider” the purchase of the Shannon Shamrock.

The motion asked that Shannon Group also be asked to consider the creation of a historic theme park in Bunratty.

Councillor McMahon said that at the moment the hotel is an “eyesore”, despite Bunratty being known nationally and internationally as a visitor destination.

He said that Bunratty would be an ideal site for the development of a theme park. “It is one huge opportunity for the whole area,” he claimed.

In its description of the Shannon Shamrock, Savills state, “The subject site extends to approximately 6.62 acres and is prominently located in the heart of Bunratty village, with the benefit of extensive frontage to both the old Bunratty Road, approximately 165m and the Hill Road, approximately 90m. The former Shannon Shamrock Hotel, while no longer in operation, remains in situ. Planning permission has been obtained for the demolition (which has already been carried out) and refurbishment of part of the existing premises (Phase 1), which would comprise 57 bedrooms and ancillary public areas on completion of Phase 1 renovation.”

Owen Ryan

]]>61608Shannon Group highlight post Brexit connectivityhttps://clarechampion.ie/shannon-group-highlight-post-brexit-connectivity/
Tue, 13 Nov 2018 21:26:09 +0000http://clarechampion.ie/?p=60890SHANNON Group, which operates Shannon Airport, is calling on Government to support it in safeguarding EU connectivity for the Mid-West and Western regions in a post Brexit environment.
Shannon Airport currently has UK hub connectivity through London Heathrow, which will continue to be hugely important connectivity going forward. But in a Brexit situation, as the UK exits the European Union, the airport will then be without connectivity into an EU hub.
Commenting on the issue, Matthew Thomas, CEO, Shannon Group said: “European hub connectivity is vital for our tourism and business customers in the Mid-West, and Western regions. It provides the air access needed to grow tourism numbers, to conduct business and attract FDI investment from Europe and is now more important than ever in the context of Brexit.
“While European connectivity is currently serviced through the London Heathrow hub, the reality is that in a post Brexit situation, the West of Ireland will be without this critical EU connectivity.
“We are engaging with Government on specific asks for a connectivity funding programme to secure strategic routes. In addition, we believe that targets should be set for the national tourism agencies to grow visitor numbers into the regions. Government’s Ireland 2040 plan rightly highlights the importance of ‘high quality international connectivity’. We are looking for the mechanism to be put in place to ensure connectivity to a key European hub is in place for the West of Ireland,” Mr Thomas explained.
“In light of the challenges Ireland would face from Brexit, particularly a hard-Brexit, it is of paramount importance that we safeguard our European connectivity. The Government’s Project Ireland 2040 recognises the fact that strong regions are the bedrock of a strong national economy. We believe that a strategic route development fund and regional tourism targets are essential and we would welcome Government’s and stakeholder support to see these asks implemented,” Mr Thomas concluded.
]]>60890Year round service to New York JFKhttps://clarechampion.ie/year-round-service-to-new-york-jfk/
Mon, 09 Apr 2018 16:34:23 +0000http://clarechampion.ie/?p=55266Aer Lingus has announced that its Shannon / New York JFK service will operate year-round in 2019. Shannon is set to operate it largest Transatlantic service in 17 years with eight transatlantic services operated by six different carriers across seven destinations from Shannon in 2018.

Matthew Thomas, Shannon Group CEO said, “We are delighted that Aer Lingus will be operating a New York / Shannon service year-round in 2019. With 40% of US foreign direct investment in Ireland within Shannon’s catchment area, this is great news for our business community, and makes our region much more attractive for future US FDI.”

Andrew Murphy, managing director, Shannon Airport said, “We welcome the decision by Aer Lingus to restore it year-round New York service, which will benefit the business community and leisure travellers who will have more options to avail of onward connections to over 90 destinations at the JFK airport, JetBlue’s largest hub airport.”

Describing the Shannon / New York JFK service as an “economically strategic connection”, Minister Pat Breen said, “This decision by Aer Lingus ensures Shannon has year round connectivity to a key hub with more than 90 connections. Such connectivity to the Mid-West Region through Shannon Airport is vital to Foreign Direct Investment, trade and the expansion of our indigenou

]]>55266Deputies looking forward to testing airport’s new intruder security systemhttps://clarechampion.ie/55054-2/
Thu, 22 Mar 2018 09:27:54 +0000http://clarechampion.ie/?p=55054Dail deputies, Mick Wallace and Clare Daly have said they are looking forward to testing out the new intruder radar detection tracking system being put in place to protect the 12.5km perimeter fence at Shannon Airport.

The two made their comments with confirmation that Shannon Airport is set to splurge a maximum of €150,000 on the first phase of the new intruder detection tracking system at the airport perimeter fence.

The perimeter fence, erected around the 968 acre airfield, has been scaled a number of times this century by anti-war activists angry over the use of Shannon by the US military.

The fence was most famously scaled by Deputy Wallace and Deputy Daly in July, 2014 when the two used a rope ladder to make their incursion into the airfield.

They were fined a total of €4,000 after being convicted of breaching airport regulations when entering a restricted area of Shannon airfield.

However, the two did not pay the fines resulting in them being brought to Limerick prison for a number of hours for the non-payment of the fines in December 2015.

Now, in a bid to stamp out after further incursions, the airport is to put in place high definition radar sensors for the fence and provide on-going support services for five years.

The airport state that it may extend the radar system for a stage 2 when funding allows to complete the radar protection system that would cover the entire perimeter fence.

Deputy Wallace said: “€150,000 seems a lot of money for a fence – We might just check out the quality of it soon…”.

Meanwhile, Deputy Daly commented: “What can I say, other than we are looking forward to testing the new security. It seems an awful shame that they are willing to spend that amount of money when really what they should be doing is their job under Human Rights Regulations and checking the planes to make sure that our neutrality is not being breached.”

In tender documents, the SAA state that €150,000 is to cover the initial site survey, and the supply, installation, commissioning, licencing and warranty of the sensors and all associated training and contractor related site attendance expenses but excluding any construction or cabling works.

Deputy Wallace added: “Successive Irish Governments involving Fianna Fáil, the PDs, the Green Party, Fine Gael, Labour, and the Independent Alliance, are complicit in crimes against Humanity. It’s interesting that today’s government are still more interested in preventing peace activists from gaining entry to the Airport complex, than searching US military planes for arms and munitions, that destroy lives.”

Last year, the Government approved 334 applications for military flights to land in Shannon Airport while 33,277 US troops went through Shannon between January and the end of August last.

Asked to comment on the radar protection system at the perimeter fence project, a spokeswoman for the Shannon Group said: “In line with international best practice for airports we continually review all aspects of our operations to identify ways for improvement, however, we do not comment on specific security matters.”

]]>55054Airport seeks to fill retail unitshttps://clarechampion.ie/airport-seeks-to-fill-retail-units/
Sat, 23 Dec 2017 14:00:52 +0000http://clarechampion.ie/?p=54107SHANNON Airport Authority is looking for a retail operator to take on two units.

One of the units is landside and 187.3 m2 in size. It is situated in a pivotal location in the main terminal building, between the check-in area and the arrivals area. According to the tender documents, the unit “is visible and accessible to all arriving and departing passengers, ‘meeters and greeters’, airport staff and the general public”.

The other unit is 136 m2 in size and is in the departure lounge, adjacent to the main duty free shop.

According to the documentation, the items to be sold would include books, magazines and similar publications, as well as convenience items (soft drinks, pre-packed sandwiches, mobile phone top ups etc).

It also states, “SAA is currently working on a ‘Sense of Place’ masterplan, which is focusing on the essential touch points in the passenger journey from the approach road to the boarding gate and all key areas in between.

“The arrivals area, where unit A is located, has been selected as the first area to be addressed as part of the Sense of Place project. Phase 1 of the arrivals project will include the construction of a new restaurant, which is scheduled to be completed in Q2/2018. This restaurant will be directly opposite unit A. Phase 1 will also include the expansion of unit A’s existing footprint.”

Meanwhile, An Bord Pleanála has found that proposals for improvements at the airport should go to Clare County Council for planning permission.

SAA is looking to modify the existing façade of the arrivals hall, to facilitate provision of a new café and the relocation of car hire units.

At the south elevation, it is seeking to relocate four wooden kiosks accommodating car hire units. They are to replaced with new glazed units.

At the east elevation, it wishes to modify the façade arrangement to facilitate relocation of car hire units internally. Works would include the demolition of existing stores, the retention of an existing exit door, demolition and rebuilding of a new curtain wall section over 4.2m approximately and the reinstatement of the roof over the extended section.

An Bord Pleanála’s inspector’s report said, “I recommend that the SAA DAC be informed that the proposed development at Shannon Airport does not fall within one or more of the paragraphs specified in the condition contained in section 37 A (2) of the Planning and Development Act, 200, as amended, and consequently does not constitute strategic infrastructure development.

“A planning application should be made in the first instance to Clare County Council.”

By Owen Ryan

]]>54107Santa set to jet in to Shannonhttps://clarechampion.ie/santa-set-to-jet-in-to-shannon/
Tue, 14 Nov 2017 14:38:57 +0000http://clarechampion.ie/?p=53794Short of Christmas Eve itself, Santa’s busiest day in the run up to December 25 is set again for Shannon Airport as the big man jets in for his fifth successive annual Santa Flights on December 2 and 3.

Over 2,000 children and their parents or guardians will be carried into the skies to meet Santa 15,000ft above sea level in what has now become the most anticipated event for children across the region aside from the big day itself.

The excitement will be palpable and noise deafening as the delight fills the Shannon terminal and skies above for a very special two day treat for children from across the country.

To raise even more funds for the Shannon Group charities this year, the airport is putting a new lottery system in place, to replace the €9.99 charge per seat last year. A €1 per seat application fee will apply to enter this year’s lottery and if you win the lottery no other charges will apply.

All profits raised from the event will go to Shannon Group’s designated charities for 2017, the Cahercalla Community Hospital & Hospice, Ennis and Home Share Clare.

The lottery system goes live this Wednesday (November 15) at 12 noon with details on how to enter the lottery available on the Shannon Airport Facebook page, the airport’s twitter account and on their website www.shannonairport.ie.

The lottery will close on Monday, November 20 at 3pm and the winners will be notified by text on Wednesday,November22.

The event will be staffed and supported by teams from across Shannon Group companies – Shannon Airport, Shannon Heritage, Shannon Commercial Properties and the International Aviation Services Centre (IASC) – with the excitement being raised from the off at the airport as check-in will be manned by Mrs Claus and her team.

Children will also be treated to a range of Christmas activities – dancing elves, games and other treats – in the transit lounge to help them while away the final minutes before boarding.

]]>53794Shannon Group Plc has new board directorhttps://clarechampion.ie/shannon-group-plc-has-new-board-director/
Wed, 01 Nov 2017 11:27:02 +0000http://clarechampion.ie/?p=53690The Chairman, CEO and management of Shannon Group plc have welcomed the appointment of Tom Kelly, CEO, AerCap Ireland, to the board of Shannon Group plc. Mr Kelly has been appointed by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross, TD, to serve on the board for a five year term.

Welcoming the appointment Rose Hynes, Chairman, Shannon Group said: “Tom is a respected business leader in the aviation sector and is a very welcome addition to our board. He provides us with the type of expertise and experience that is required to deliver our strategic vision for the Group. I look forward to working with him at this exciting and challenging time for Shannon.”

Matthew Thomas, CEO, Shannon Group said: “I also welcome the new director. Shannon Group directly contributes to Ireland’s economic prosperity and Mr Kelly will be a great asset in assisting us to continue to deliver on our plans, which we hope can further grow Shannon Group’s impact to benefit even more people in the region and beyond.”

Mr Kelly was appointed Chief Executive Officer of AerCap Ireland Limited in 2010. Mr Kelly previously served as Chief Financial Officer of AerCap’s Irish operations and has a substantial aircraft leasing and financial services background.

Previously, he spent ten years with GECAS where his last roles were as Chief Financial Officer and director of GECAS Limited, GECAS’s Irish operation. Mr. Kelly also served as global controller for GECAS in his role as Senior Vice President & Controller.

Prior to joining GECAS in 1997, Mr Kelly spent over eight years with KPMG in their London office, acting as a Senior Manager in their financial services practice.

A chartered accountant, Mr Kelly holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from University College Dublin.

]]>53690A good year for Shannon Grouphttps://clarechampion.ie/a-good-year-for-shannon-group/
Tue, 25 Apr 2017 14:14:31 +0000http://www.clarechampion.ie/?p=51714Shannon Group plc recorded another positive year of trading in 2016, as turnover hit €67.2 million, up by over 2% on 2015. In its second full year of trading, the group, the parent company of Shannon Airport, Shannon Commercial Properties and Shannon Heritage, recorded EBITDA of €7.6 million, reflecting a solid performance and a 10% increase on 2015.

Announcing his first annual results as CEO of Shannon Group, Matthew Thomas said that a continuation of the company’s improving financial performance is necessary to enable it to undertake critical investments across its business units.

“The Shannon Group has a unique mix of complementary businesses that, more than any other commercial entity in the region, gives it the potential to positively influence economic development. Sixteen companies who announced new or expanded operations in 2016 in the Mid-West, which was the fastest growing region outside of Dublin last year, cited the global connectivity at Shannon Airport as a key influencer in their decision to invest here,” he said.

Mr Matthews said Shannon Group intends to undertake a significant investment programme across its businesses, “particularly at Shannon Airport and Shannon Commercial Properties. Our third business unit, Shannon Heritage, manages Ireland’s largest collection of day and night-time visitor attractions and we see very significant opportunity for growth there also”.

]]>51714Shannon Group starts work on €10m high spec office blockhttps://clarechampion.ie/shannon-group-starts-work-on-e10m-high-spec-office-block/
Thu, 09 Mar 2017 11:10:07 +0000http://www.clarechampion.ie/?p=51102The inward investment potential of the Shannon Free Zone is set to be significantly boosted following the sod-turning by Shannon Commercial Properties for a €10 million state-of-the-art new office block.

The high-spec 55,000 sq ft facility, built to LEED (Leadership in energy and environmental design) Gold standards and located on the newly named Airport Avenue, is the first speculative new-build by Shannon Commercial Properties, a Shannon Group Plc company.

The build is part of a €25 million first phase redevelopment programme at the Free Zone.

Launched by Minister of State at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Pat Breen TD, the facility will be built to top international standards and is designed for FDI and Irish enterprises seeking high-end office space. In excess of 120 construction jobs will be sustained during construction.

The site, located adjacent to Shannon Airport perimeter which was demolished ahead of this investment, work on which will be completed by in May of next year. The versatile new building will comprise four 13,500 sq ft. floors and is suitable for single or multiple tenancies.

What the new office block will look like

Speaking at the sod-turning, Minister Breen said that the investment has the capacity to attract significant new employment into the region.

“This investment by Shannon Group, through its property arm Shannon Commercial Properties, is not just for the Free Zone but for Co. Clare and, indeed, the entire Mid-West region. The state-of- the-art facility will have the capacity to attract hundreds of jobs into the Shannon Free Zone. Shannon Group and its property wing Shannon Commercial Properties are to be commended for making this investment, which has real potential as a location for inward investment,” he said.

Shannon Group CEO Matthew Thomas said that the market opportunity for the facility is already evident.

“We are building in response to market demand. We worked closely with the IDA on our research and know that this type of high-end office space is in demand at the moment and without having put a shovel to soil, we have already received enquiries. To that end, we are confident that this investment will further strengthen the investment in the Shannon Free Zone and will bring significant jobs to Shannon, Co. Clare and the Mid-West region,” he remarked.

Shannon Group Chairman Rose Hynes said the Shannon Group is now established two and a half years and, with regard to its property portfolio, has hit the ground running with a range of investments, the latest of which is this office block.

“Our objective is to deliver the type of investment that will facilitate major job creation, either from IDA clients or the indigenous sector. Ireland remains an extremely attractive investment location and in a national context Shannon, not least because of the presence of an international airport, is a key asset. Our challenge prior to this has been a lack of appropriate facilities to fully capitalise on this opportunity but we are quickly addressing that through this and other investments.”

Shannon Commercial Properties CEO Ray O’Driscoll said that while they have already completed significant investment as part of their €25 million Phase 1 programme, including a 70,000 sq ft build at GE Sensing, this is the first investment they have made in a facility that is not for an already existing tenant.

“We are confident that this will deliver a very significant return for the region due to the high specifications of the building and also because of the market demand for high-end office space,” he said.